International women's day PES Women event at the European Parliament, 8 March
8 March 2006
Bulgarian PM & Swedish Vice PM sign up to stop trafficking
Socialist politicians from all over Europe joined forces in the European Parliament today to demand action
to prevent the mass trafficking of women and girls into Germany for prostitution during the World Cup.
Estimates of the number of women at risk varies from 40,000 to over 100,000.
Many are expected to be trafficked from the poorest nations in Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
They will be brought into Germany on false promises of a better life and a decent job (like waitressing or cleaning).
Criminal gangs operate across Europe exploiting women and forcing them to sell their bodies.
Those taking part in the Party of European Socialists "International Women's Day" event in the European Parliament to launch a petition against trafficking included : Zita Gurmai President of PES Women and Hungarian MEP,
Christie Morreale Vice-President Belgian Parti Socialiste, Belgian MEP Anne Van Lanker Veronique de Keyser, Swedish MEP and Vice-President of PES Women Inger Segelström, German MP Lissy Groener, Birtish MEP Robert Evans, Hungarian MEPs Alexandra Dobolyi and Magda Kovacs Kosane plus Mary McPhail Secretary General of the European Women’s Lobby, and young socialist activists from all over Europe. Josep Borrell, President of the European Parliament, signed the petition along with many other MEPs.
Zita Gurmai said "Unless concerted action is taken by EU member states and neighbouring countries, thousands of women will fall victim to ruthless pimps and traffickers. Prostitution is legal in Germany but trafficking is a crime throughout Europe. It can and must be stopped."
She added "PES Women want the World Cup to be a success - a celebration of people of different nations enjoying a great sporting event. Nobody wants it to be the scene of a major crime."
The petition, which has already been signed by over 10,000 people from across the world including Sergei Stanishev Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Bosse Ringholm Vice Prime Minister of Sweden, Mircea Geoana Leader of the the Romanian Social Democratic Party, Helle Thorning Schmidt, Leader of the Danish Social Democrats, and PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, will be presented to the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso.
For more information :
Julian Scola, Press Officer
Party of European Socialists
tel +32 486 117 394
julian.scola@pes.org
